Sambora: Bon Jovi not 'the real thing' without him

2 years ago

Estranged Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora admits he found it strange that Bon Jovi continued to tour last year without him.

The rocker tells Melbourne, Australia's "Herald Sun" the band simply isn't authentic without him. He uses a cola analogy to make his point, saying, "If you're going to buy a can of Coke, you want the real thing."

Sambora explains that he's "considered Jon Bon Jovi's side arm, or something." He references another well-known rock partnership for emphasis, adding that "Mick Jagger wouldn't tour without Keith Richards and call it the Rolling Stones." But Richie says Bon Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi "just has a different mentality."

Sambora admits his sudden departure from the group last spring, during Bon Jovi's "Because We Can" tour, was "an unpopular decision with the fans and the band," but it was something he "needed to do" for both himself and his family. And he's still not ruling out a return to the band, but says "there will have to be a lot of communication" first.